Racing


Icanonlyemagine Steps Up In Vinton Stakes Victory
Icanonlyemagine, under jockey Pat Watson, scores an easy win in the Vinton Stakes at Delta Downs Saturday night.

© Coady Photography
Icanonlyemagine Steps Up In Vinton Stakes Victory

VINTON, LA—MAY 23, 2015—Bobby Cox's lightly raced Icanonlyemagine scored his first stakes win Saturday night with an impressive 1¼ victory over Louisiana Legends in the $50,000 Vinton Stakes at Delta Downs. Embrujo Star finished a head back in the show position.

Ridden by jockey Pat Watson, the Kenneth Roberts, Sr. trainee completed the 400 yards in :19.707 seconds to earn a 92 speed index. The $30,000 winner's purse boosted the Swingin Jess' gelding's earnings to $93,813.

Winning jockey Pat Watson and trainer Kenny Roberts accept the Vinton Stakes trophy on Saturday night at Delta Downs. © Coady Photography
Roberts sent out three winners overall on Saturday night’s program.

Second in his only start this season, Icanonlyemagine won two of four starts last year and was a finalist in the $1 million LQHBA Breeders' Futurity at Evangeline Downs. Daniel Trahan bred the sorrel gelding from the multiple stakes producing Dash For Cash mare Real Or Imagined.

Louisiana Legends races for owner Alejando Sanchez and trainer Carlos Saldivar. Ridden by jockey Raul Ramirez, Jr., the son of leading Louisiana sire Jet Black Patriot put in a solid rally to get up for second. Out of the Some Dasher mare Sheza Cash Dasher, Louisiana Legends was bred by Patton Farms. He has won three of 13 career starts and used the $10,000 runner-up Vinton paycheck to boost his mark to $86,667.

Already a graded stakes winner, Embrujo Star picked up $5,500 to bring her earnings total to almost $235,000. Trey Ellis conditions last year's Lassie Futurity(RG2) winner for owner Hubert Vestal. Donell Blake rode the Embrujo Fg daughter out of Allas Toast, by Toast To Dash. Gabrial Lewis is the breeder.

Completing the field were Game, Sheza Gamer, Jrs Mighty Matteo, Dashacrossyourmind and Firefly Fortune.

For more information about the current season visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com or on the Facebook page, ‘Delta Downs Racing’.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.